Grammar Question on Bible Passage

1 Cor 12:7-11





7 B

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same* Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. NKJV

A fellow insists that there was only ONE manifestation of the Spirit since it says "THE manifestation". I argued that it is "the manifestation...to EACH", and that collectively there were nine different manifestations listed. The manifestation to ONE is ONE manifestation. The manifestations among the collective was nine different manifestations. Illustration. The gift to my wife was a book. The gift to my daughter was a CD. The gift to my son was a harmonica. "The gift" is one gift to each, but there are a total of three gifts among the family.

The fellow said that he asked a Yale professor about this and he said I was wrong. I doubt a professor said such a thing. I asked an English teacher and she said I was right. Do you have any connections to any English teachers or professors who can verify which position is correct? Also, please give me your input on the proper grammatical understanding. Thanks


Terry W. Benton

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